Vocation Plan

The Parish Vocation Teams are a new initiative of the Diocese of Venice for the purpose of praying for and encouraging young people to follow the Lord's call. Click on the Parish Vocation Teams link to the left to see more information about how you can help promote vocations in the Diocese of Venice.

Following Christ

A reflection on building a culture of vocations

“Follow me!” These words of Jesus Christ have echoed in the hearts of men and women for some 2000 years, inspiring them, awakening in them the realization that God has called me.

Each of us is a child of God. Each of us has a unique combination of gifts, strengths, and weaknesses that make up who we are, and who we have the potential to become. Yet, the foundational calling that we all share from Baptism, is to follow Christ. It is this call to holiness that lies at the root of every personal vocation whether it be marriage, priesthood, religious life, or the single life.

Every November we celebrate National Vocations Awareness Week. It is an opportunity as a Church to reflect on the reality of our personal vocation and to focus on promoting a culture of vocation in our communities. A culture that encourages every young man or woman to discern and be open to the plan God has in store for them. In particular, it is an opportunity to draw attention to the vocations of priesthood and religious life. How can we as a Church do this?

Pray

The first and most important step as Jesus tells us and Pope Francis reminds us, is prayer: “Behind and before every vocation to the priesthood or to the consecrated life there is always the strong and intense prayer of someone: a grandmother, a grandfather, a mother, a father, a community…. This is why Jesus said: “Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest,” that is, God the Father, “to send out laborers into his harvest” (Mt 9:38). Vocations are born in prayer and from prayer; and only through prayer can they persevere and bear fruit.” Our parish communities can answer this call by beginning prayer groups for priestly and religious vocations or by simply dedicating a particular day of the week to this intention.

Teach

The second step is education. It is the family that is the first school and the parents who are the first teachers of their children. It is at home where every child learns to love, to pray, to grow in virtue, and to experience the truth of God’s love for them. In the words of Pope Saint John Paul II, the family is “the seedbed of vocations.” It is in the family where children first learn that they are called by God to something great, whether that be as a priest, religious brother or sister, or faithful husband and wife, father and mother.

Invite

The third step requires some courage on the part of parents, grandparents, teachers, and priests to invite young people to consider the priesthood or religious life. Every priest or religious sister or brother can point to someone who planted the seed of their vocation and encouraged its growth. This was certainly true for me on a personal level. As a college student, I can remember vividly the moment when a priest told me to think about the priesthood because I would make a good priest. My response? I laughed! I thought it was a joke, but the joke was on me. As the days and weeks went by I could not shake the thought of priesthood. Finally, I decided to check it out just so I could make sure it was not for me. Well, I never left! It can be difficult to hear God’s voice in the world today, and that is why it is so necessary that as a Church we are proactive in planting those seeds for young people by our encouragement and invitation.

Support

Lastly, one the best things we can do for vocations is to support our priests and religious brothers and sisters. Hearing positive stories about how a priest or religious made a difference in someone’s life can leave a lasting impression, particularly on young people. I should say though continue to support, because we receive an incredible amount of support from the people we serve. For this we are truly grateful, because it is your support that inspires and encourages us all, and helps us to live out our vocations joyfully. As we each strive to live out our vocations, let us ask our Blessed Mother Mary to pray for our young people. May they respond wholeheartedly to her Son’s invitation, “Follow me!”

Fr. Eric Scanlan is the Diocese of Venice Vocations Director. For more information on discerning a vocation or promoting vocations at the parish level, please contact him at 941-486-4720 or scanlan@dioceseofvenice.org